As the secretary leaves, the hairdresser does a last-minute check on her hair, splitting it into sections and combing it.
As he combs every strand of her hair, Rosaria is left trembling in her seat. As he continues to brush her long hair, she thinks to herself, "What is this Duke thinking? I did not agree to this. I know he loves me, but this is too much for me. My lovely hair, my lovely hair. I can't believe I'm going to get it cut. I'll have to get used to it because I'm now the Duchess of Eklostead and must obey the Duke."
Before beginning the haircut, the hairdresser returns to the table and sanitizes the cutting instruments. Penelope walks in and notices a terrified Rosaria trembling.
"My Lady, are you all right? I heard from the maids that Madame is going to get her hair cut. I was concerned and hurried her. Are you okay, my lady?"
"I'm a little nervous because I've never had a haircut," Rosaria said, her frail body trembling. Penelope feels sorry for her and rubs her hand to comfort the young lady.
"Don't worry, the maids and butlers of this house adore your long hair, but it's all for the Duke's happiness and for our lady to be the top lady of the capital. Do not be concerned, my lady; your hair will grow long in time. Please do not be concerned; I am with you "Penelope said as she held her hand until the hairdresser arrived.
As the man approached with a tray containing all of the cutting tools, he checked the hair again and then applied the oil to the lady's hair to smooth it and massaged her head.
"Shall we begin, your Highness? I will first put on the cape so the hair strands do not touch your dress," the hairdresser said as he took a cloth from the tray that held the instruments.
"May I?" inquired the Hairdresser.
"Umm... proceed," Rosaria said, gulping and gripping the arm of the chair tightly as Penelope moved aside. The cape is then donned by the hairdresser. After that, the hairdresser directs the hair into a bun. He divided her hair into three sections, left, right, and back, and tied the back into a ponytail.
"Madame, shall I begin?" exclaimed the hairdresser, excited because this was the first time he'd cut someone's long hair, and Penelope heard from behind that he had been given permission to sell her locks to the orphanage.
The hairdresser prepares to cut her hair with permission. Rosaria closes her eyes, and Penelope turns around to avoid seeing. The hairdresser prepares to begin. He begins to flex the scissors in one hand while running the comb through the duchess's long, thick locks.
As a result, the newly appointed duchess of Eklostead is about to have her hair cut short; she can hear the scissors snipping its blades as they prepare to run across her tresses.
The hairdresser begins cutting her left side of her hair until it falls to his hands as he places the scissors to her tresses, and Rosaria trembles as she hears the sound of the blade cutting her long tied hair.
*snip* *snip**snip*
The hairdresser has finally cut half of her hair and shows it to the duchess, who has begun to tremble. She notices her hair and bursts into tears.
"Enough, I can't take it any longer."
""No, it's not finished," the secretary said as he returned, "there's still a lot of work to be done with Mr Heres." Please cooperate as this is for your and the house's benefit."
"But..." before she could finish her sentence, the secretary shook his head and told the barber to continue as Penelope, who came in and wiped her tears. She comforts the lady by holding her hand. Rosaria, comforted by Penelope, requests that Mr Heres continue.
The hairdresser then continues by chopping off the right side of the hair and then going to the back side while combing the hair and taking out large scissor as the back side of the hair was huge and slowly cutting the lady's hair.
*Krrch**Krrch**Krrch**Krrch*
Rosaria could hear the scissor attempting to cut her long mane. She was helpless because there was no mirror and she couldn't see how her hair was cut. She could only sit and watch as large strands of her hair fell to her thighs.
Mr Heres continued to trim her hair as he finished cutting the long locks. He began by spraying water into her hair to wet it, then sectioning it into different sides and bringing in the scissor and combs to begin trimming. Rosaria was at a loss for words and couldn't see her reflection, only pieces of her hair falling into the cape.
*snip* *snip**snip**snip* *snip**snip*
"My hair, my beautiful hair, it's as if I'm being sacrificed. Please finish it quickly. I can't take it any longer "She sobs as she hears each snip of her hair being cut by the hairdresser. She could see the hairdresser combing her hair to her face and trimming it. Her red hair fell to the ground as crimson snow. She trembled, but as she felt lightness in her head, she slowed down.
After an hour, the hairdresser finishes cutting her hair, opens the cape, and places her hands over the mirror. The lady with floor-length hair now has hair that reaches her shoulder. She was noticeably different.
" My lady you look beautiful" said Penelope as she could not recognize the lady
" Yes, it suits you" said the secretary
" Is that so" said Rosaria as she checks her new look and then thanks the hairdresser.
Penelope then goes to the secretary and asks him,
"Sir Cesar, I would like to have a request"
"What is it Penelope? "he questions
" I would like to be the duchess's lady in waiting"
"Penelope?" gasped Rosaria. Penelope walks to
her, " Please accept me Madame, I want to serve you till the day I die, Please accept my proposal "
Rosaria was out of words as he sees the secretary, " is it okay to take this child as my lady in waiting"
"She's fifteen now, she is eligible and if she really means it, I won't complain"
Rosaria smiles and hugs her, " Then, therefore I appoint Penelope as my lady in waiting "
Penelope is overjoyed and goes to Mr Heres. " Kind sir, as a token of appreciation, I would like to have my hair cut as well."
"What?" inquired the hairdresser.
"It's okay, Penelope, you don't have to do it," Rosaria said, but Penelope insists because she wants to bear what Rosaria felt moments before. She quickly opens her apron, untangles her hair, sits in the chair, and requests a haircut.
Rosaria couldn't help but notice Penelope getting her hair cut as the hairdresser arrived with approval from the secretary and placed the cape on her.
"How would you like to have your hair done" asks the Hairdresser
Penelope shows her hand and points till the chin.
"That much!" said Rosaria
Penelope smiles, " For you my lady, I will do anything. Please sir cut it till my chin"
"Mmm.. suit yourself " said the Hairdresser as he wets her hair and starts to cut her hair also. Unlike the lady, Penelope smiled as her hair was chopped off and did not shed a tear. After a while, Penelope sported a Bob like hair and thanks everyone.
" How do I look Madame" she asks the duchess
" You look wonderful"
Sir Cesar, seeing the two, walks away, his job completed. He then tells her that they will work at the study tomorrow because Rosaria will be assigned duchess duties. She and Penelope spent the evening admiring their new looks and experimenting with new styles.
Late at night, the lady was sound asleep when a figure walked next to her bed from the window. It was the Duke himself, who was curious about his wife's new hairstyle.
"Now you look beautiful," he said as he kissed her on the cheek. "Please wait, my love, because I will return soon," he said as he exited the room from the balcony.